SAEDNEWS: Many people strive to maintain a balanced diet and good fitness, which is why the saying "You are what you eat" holds true. Eating healthily often translates to having healthy habits. Making creamy, delicious yogurt at home is a great way to ensure you’re consuming nutritious food.
Homemade yogurt is free of additives and preservatives, making it beneficial for skin and hair health. Here’s a guide on how to make creamy yogurt at home.
Full-fat local milk: 2 liters
High-quality yogurt: 1 tablespoon
Prepare the Starter Yogurt: Leave the yogurt that will be used as the starter at room temperature for two hours before starting.
Boil the Milk: In a clean pot, boil the milk. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes to kill any bacteria and evaporate excess water.
Cool the Milk: Pour the boiled milk into the container where you will make the yogurt and let it cool. Test the temperature by dipping a finger; it should be warm but not burn. Alternatively, use a thermometer to ensure the milk is between 42-45°C.
Mix the Starter with Milk: In a bowl, mix the room-temperature starter yogurt with a little milk. Once well combined, add it to the milk and stir gently with a spoon until fully mixed.
Let the Yogurt Set: Close the container tightly and wrap it with a clean towel or blanket. Leave it in a warm place for 4-6 hours to set. Once set, refrigerate the yogurt for 24 hours to firm up.
Making strained yogurt is also simple. Once you’ve made or obtained yogurt, follow these steps:
Prepare the Straining Cloth: Place a clean cotton cloth inside a deep pot.
Strain the Yogurt: Pour the yogurt into the cloth, allowing the excess whey to drain into the pot. Tie the cloth securely.
Refrigerate: Place the cloth with yogurt in a container and refrigerate to drain the whey further. You can also hang the cloth to let the whey drain out, which may result in a slightly sour taste over time.
You can adjust the thickness of the strained yogurt based on how long you let it drain. The whey is rich in vitamin B and can be consumed.
Both strained and creamy yogurt are excellent for making various dishes, especially refreshing cucumber-yogurt salad in the summer.
